IDF video shows Hebron teen shooting

Army releases clip that purports to show incident in which female Border Police officer killed a 17-yr-old Palestinian.

By BEN HARTMAN
Site of Hebron shooting 370 (photo credit: TOVAH LAZAORFF)
Site of Hebron shooting 370
(photo credit: TOVAH LAZAORFF)
An IDF video that reportedly shows last week’s incident – in which a female Border Police officer shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian – was posted online Monday night, potentially shedding some light on the event.
In the video, which was not officially released by the IDF but was posted on a Facebook page by IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee on Monday, apparently shows Muhammad al- Salaymeh, 17, make the first move to attack the soldiers after speaking to them at the Border Police post next to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
In the subtitled video, which is shot from above the guard station, Salaymeh can be seen walking slowly up to the post and speaking to one of the officers, before appearing to show him his ID. He then slowly walks away, before turning to face an officer behind him, and then quickly placing his right hand against the officer’s temple and then striking him hard with his right fist. The two then fall back and begin struggling with one another and tumble off to the right.
At the same time another Palestinian appears to come and try to assist Salaymeh, but then flees the scene.
Moments later the Border Police officer and Salaymeh separate from one another and “N,” a female Border Police officer, shoots him three times.
It is hard to tell in the video if Salaymeh was indeed holding a fake metal gun as the Border Police contend, though he does appear to be holding a shiny object in his right hand in the video.
Salaymeh was celebrating his birthday on December 12 when he died, and his family claim he was heading out to buy a birthday cake and did not pull a fake gun on the soldiers.
The day after his death, Palestinians clashed with IDF and Border Patrol officers for hours across the West Bank.
The IDF’s Judea and Samaria Division spokesman Capt. Barak Raz wrote on his Twitter account, “Last Wednesday night a Palestinian male attacked a Border Policeman at a post in Hebron, pressing this ‘gun’ to his throat.”
Raz posted an image taken of the black handgun replica used by the attacker.
“Watch security tape and ask yourself how you would react if this was your partner,” Raz added.